Foldable copyholder and supporting standard



FOLDABLE COPYHOLDER AND SUPPORTING STANDARD Filed March 10; 1959 M. E. FRASCH Dec. 22, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. MARY E. FRASCH BY-CORBETT, MAHONEY.

MILLER & RAMBO, ATT'YS. W WW Dec. 22, 1959 sc 2,918,038

: F OLDABLE COPYHOLDER AND SUPPORTING STANDARD Filed March 10, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

MARY E. FRASCH 3 BY-CORBETT. MAHONEY.

, E MILLER & RAMBO,ATT Y5.

2,918,038 e 1; Pa t entecl Dec. 22, 1959 if V . 2,91 ,03 FOLDABLE coPYHoLnER AND SUPPORTING STANDARDIJ'H E. Frasch, Columbus, Ohio Application March10, 1959, Serial No. 798,396 T 6 Claims. c1.. 12o s3 This inventionv relates to a foldable copyholder and supporting standard. ItXhas to do; more particularly,

with a device of this type which is adapted to support a document to be copied in'a readily visibleposition for reading and copying by 'a typist. However, it is capable ofotheruses. J I

Many types, of copyholders are now provided. However, thesecopyholders are generally of rigid, cumbersome and heavy construction which are inconvenient to handle and to store. In fact, due toits bulky nature, it is ,usually necessary for a device of this type to remain on the desk where it is often in the way. Furthermore, prior art devices of-this general type are usually of relatively expensive construction; P

' According tothe present invention,- I provide a copy:

holder device which includes a section for holding and displaying the copy or document to be read and a section for serving as a standard to support the copyholding section in an upright position. The two sections-are so designed that theycan be folded together inv a neat package similarto a file. folderforstorage in a drawer or file or can be unfolded forrec'eiving and supporting the copy. The-copyholder .device'is made of inexpensive material, such as flexible cardboard, plastic, or metal, and, therefore, can be produced at a relatively low cost. Furthermore, because of the natureofthe material, the device will be extremely. light and'easy to handle and position." i i a I Various other objects and. advantages 'will-be'apparent. The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred embodiment of this invention-but it is tobe understood that. specific details may be varied without; departing from basic principles. 1 i In these drawings: I I Figure .1 is a perspective view showing the copyholder in use to support copy to be read, for example, as it is transcribed. i i

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the copy-receiving and" holding section of the device showing the reading guide strip positioned thereon. i

Fig. 2a is a perspective ,y'iew of the supporting standard and cover section of thedevice. v r I 1 Fig. '3 is a plan view of-the in'n'er side of thedevice which is shown in a flat condition.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the copyholder device in its folded condition.

With reference to the drawings, the copyholder device is shown as comprising three main cooperating sections, namely, the supporting standard and cover section 10, the copy-receiving and holding or displaying section 11, and the reading guide strip section 12. All of these sections are made of relatively inexpensive and lightweight material which is capable of being folded to still retain its inherent resiliency; for example, cardboard, pliable metal, plastic or laminated paper materials may be employed. However, this invention is not limited to any particular material.

The section 11, as shown in Figure 2, can be made of a flat rectangular blank of material and is mainly of flat rectangular form having the flat body 15. Along the side edges. of this body the longitudinally extending flanges '16 are folded inwardly toward each other in overlapping relationship to the body 15. They extend completely along the body from the end edge 17 to the end edge 18. Each flange 16 is preferably secured to the body at each end by suitable means, such as the staples19 shown. Thus, guide channels are provided at each edge of the body 15 for receiving the ends of the reading guide strip section 12, as will be described later. Intermediate its ends, the section 11 is provided with a transversely extending, scored or weakened fold line 20 which extendstransversely of the body 15 as well as of.

the flanges 16. Adjacent the edge 17, the body 15 is provided. with a pair of openings 21, which are equally spaced at opposite sides of the body center line. At its lower edge 18, the body 15 is provided with a centrally located inverted V-notch 22. The fold line 20 is located closer to the edge 18 than to the edge 17 and thereby produces the flaps 15a and 15b of unequal area.

The section 10 is illustrated in Figure 2a. It also can be formed from a rectangular blank to provide the fiat body 25. At its one end edge 26 this body has a pair of openings 27 which are spaced the same as the openings 21 and are so positioned that they can be brought into alignment therewith, as will later appear. A similar pair of openings 28 is provided adjacent the other end edge 29 of the section 10. Intermediate the edges 26 and 29 the body 25 is provided with a transverse fold line 30 like the line 20. Extending from this fold line 30 to the lower edge 29 along each side edge of the body 25 is a guide flange 31-. Each of these flanges 31 is folded inwardly into overlapping relationship to the body 25 and the lower end of each is fastened to the body by suitable means suchas by the staples 33. Thus, guide channels are provided at each side of the body 25 which are open at one end at the fold line 30 from which they extend to the edge 29. This edge 29 is provided with a centrally-disposed, inverted V-shaped notch 32 which is adapted to be brought into alignment with the notch 22, as will later appear.

As previously indicated, the fold line 20 in the section 11 is closer to the. one edge 18 than to the other edge 17. This produces a lower flap 15a of lesser longitudinal extent than the upper flap 15b. The fold line 30 in the section 10 is midway of the end edges 26 and 29 thereof to produce the flaps 25a and 25b which are identical in longitudinal extent with each other and with the flap 15b of the section 11. This relationship is important as will be described later.

Thelrea'ding guide strip section 12 is preferably formed of an elongated or narrow strip which has its ends folded into several overlapping folds, as indicated at 35 in Figure 5. The strip is further folded to provide a handle flange 36 along one of the long edges thereof. When mounted on the section 11,'the folded ends 35 will fit in the guide channels provided by the flanges 16, as indicated in Figure 5. The handle 36 will be of such length that its ends will terminate within the flanges 16. The folds 35 provide automatically expansible guide portions which will expand and fit within the guide channels to normally hold the reading guide strip section 12 in adjusted position therealong. However, the section 12 may In assembling the device, the section 11 is inserted in the guide channels provided on the section by means of the flanges 31, as shown in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5. The reading guide section 12 is inserted in the channels on the section 11 provided by the flanges 16. If it is de-. sired to use the copyholder device, the flap 25b is folded rearwardly and downwardly relative to the flap 25a to provide a supporting standard which will rest on the edges 17 and 18. The flaps 25a and 25b may be held in the desired angular relationship by means of a cord 40 which is threaded through the two pairs of openings 27 and 28 and is tied, as shown in Figure 1. In order for the section 11 to be disposed upright but in rearwardly inclined position, as shown in Figure 1, the section 11 is pushed downwardly in the guide channels on the flap 25a as far as possible. At this time, the edge 18 of the section 11 will be spaced just slightly above the lower edge 29 of the section 10 and the notches 22 and 32 01? the respective sections will be in alignment. Furthermore, the fold line of the section 11 will be below the fold line 30 of the section 10 which condition is also illustrated in Figure 3. Consequently, the flanges 31 cooperating with the flanges 16, as Well as with the associated fiaps 15a and a (Figure 5), will serve to stiffen the section 11 and prevent its folding at the line 20. Thus, the section 11 can receive copy and hold it, the copy being indicated at C in Figure 1 and being positioned under the reading guide strip section 12. Thus, the copy C will be displayed in such a manner that it can be easily transcribed. Furthermore, this transcription will be facilitated by the reading guide strip section 12 which can be moved downwardly line-by-line as the copy C is transcribed. As previously stated, the reading guide 12 will be held in adjusted position beneath the flanges 16 by friction.

If it is now desired to fold the device into the condition illustrated in Figure 6 similar to a file folder for placing in a drawer or file, the cord 40 is untied allowing the flap 25b to swing up against the flap 15b. At

the same time the section 11 is pulled upwardly until its fold line 20 is in coincidence with the fold line of the section 10. Then, both sections can be folded together and all three pairs of the openings 21, 26 and 28 will be in alignment so that the cord can be passed therethrough to tie the device in folded condition, as shown in Figure 6. For folding, the section 12 will be positioned within the area of one of the flaps 15a or 15b of the section 11. a

If desired, the copy may be secured along its upper edge to the upper edge of the flap portion 15b of the inner section 11 by means of paper clips or the like, not shown.

It will be understood, that in lieu of the cord or string 40, a flexible, paper-covered metallic wire may be employed, in which event, the free end portions of such wire would merely be bent or twisted together to eliminate the necessity for tying or knotting the free end portions of the textile cord 40.

It will be apparent that I have provided a simple and inexpensive structure which is of light weight and easy to handle. It may be folded when not in use and stored in a minimum space. Furthermore, when it is desired 4 1 to use it as a copyholder, it can be easily and quickly set up to hold the copy in a display position where the copy can be easily read by a typist. Furthermore, the line-reading guide can be adjusted as the transcribing progresses and will stay in adjusted position.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, the principles of this invention have been explained and have been illustrated and described in what is now considered to represent the best embodiment. However, it is to be understood that, within the scope-of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and'described.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed 1. A copyholder device comprising a first supporting standard and cover section and a second copy-receiving and display section, said first section having a transverse fold line intermediate its ends to provide a pair of flaps, guide channels extending outwardly from the fold line along a side edge of one of said flaps to an adjacent end edge on such flap, said second section being mounted in said guide channels for slidable movement, said second section having a transverse fold line intermediate its ends to provide a pair of flaps, one of which is of less longitudinal extent than the other and ispositioned so that its edges are within said guide channels, said second section being slidable in said guide channels relative to the first section to bring the fold lines of both sections into alignment for folding 'or to move them out of alignment for preventing folding of said second section. V

2. A device according to claim 1 in which the second section has guide channels along both of its side edges, and a reading guide extending transversely thereof into said last-named guide channels.

' 3. A copyholder device comprising an outer section formed of two flaps foldable along a transverse fold line, one of said flaps having guide channels along its side edges, an inner section formed of two flaps foldable along a transverse fold line with one flap being of lesser extent than the other from the fold line outwardly, the latter flap extending into said guide channels and being slidable therein to bring the fold line of the inner section into and out of coincidence with 'thefold line of the outer section.

4..A device according to claim 3 in which said inner section has guide channels extending along both flaps at its side edges and a reading guide strip extending transversely of said inner section and having its ends extending into said last-named guide channels.

5. A device according to claim 3 in which saidflap of lesser extent is provided witha V-notch in itsouter edge which may be brought into alignment with a V-no'tch in the corresponding edge of the first section.

.6. A device according to claim 3 in which flexible means is connected to the outer edges of the two flaps of the first section to hold them in predetermined relationship.

References Cited in the file of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,538,318 Mitchell Ian.'16, 1951 l l l 

